Johor Sultanate

The Johor Sultanate was a Malay sultanate that existed from 1528 to 1855, from 1885 to 1942, and from 1945 to 1946, with Johor Bahru serving as its capital. The sultanate was formed after Portugal conquered the capital of the Malacca Sultanate, and Johore soon expanded to include much of present-day Malaysia, Singapore, and some outlying islands. In 1819, the British were allowed to establish a trading post on Singapore, and the British and Dutch, once rivals, decided to divide Johore between them. The British annexed mainland Johore in 1855, while the Dutch annexed its islands that same year. In 1885, the British recognized Johore's independence, but only on mainland Johore. Sultan Abu Bakar of Johore modernized the state, using Western and Malay architecture to construct large buildings. In 1914, the British forced Sultan Ibrahim of Johor to accept a Crown adviser, transforming Johore into a British protectorate. From 1942 to 1945, Johore was occupied by Japan during World War II, but it returned to Britain after the war's end. On 31 March 1946, Johor was added into the Malayan Union.